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Adolescents' Strategies to Manage Mental Health Challenges In and After the Pandemic: Two Mixed-Methods Studies
Hilde M Huizenga1, Floor E Ammerlaan2, Indi Zandstra2
1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129 B, Amsterdam, 1018WS, The Netherlands. h.m.huizenga@uva.nl.
Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
|June 9, 2026
Summary
Adolescents utilize diverse, symptom-specific strategies to manage mental health challenges. Frequently used coping mechanisms were found to be helpful, offering insights for targeted prevention programs.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Mental Health
- Coping Strategies
Background:
- Adolescent mental health management strategies are under-researched.
- Understanding protective factors against severe difficulties is crucial.
- Adolescent-specific coping mechanisms require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze adolescent-specific strategies for managing mental health challenges.
- To assess the perceived helpfulness of these strategies.
- To explore the relationship between strategy goals and helpfulness.
Main Methods:
- Development of an innovative online tool for adolescents to share and rate mental health strategies.
- Two studies conducted on community samples of adolescents (aged 16-20) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Inductive analysis to identify strategies, followed by quantitative analyses to assess helpfulness and strategy goals.
Main Results:
- 51 distinct strategies were identified, including novel adolescent-specific approaches.
- Frequently used strategies were perceived as more helpful by adolescents.
- Perceived helpfulness was not significantly related to strategy goals (problem-solving vs. avoidance).
Conclusions:
- Adolescents employ a wide range of helpful, symptom-specific strategies for mental health management.
- Findings provide valuable insights for developing tailored prevention and intervention programs.
- The identified strategies resonate with adolescents' unique experiences and needs.
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